Act leader Rodney Hide says some of his ministerial colleagues wish to force-feed New Zealanders "regulatory lard" because of political expediency and are opposed to his proposal to cut regulations.
The Regulatory Responsibility Bill has been on the books since Mr Hide introduced it as a private member's bill in2006. It was set to fail under the last Government, but he hopes for a more favourable response from National.
Yesterday in a speech in Christchurch, Mr Hide again spoke up for the bill, which is now in the name of Act MP Roger Douglas. The minister said it would "unclog the arteries of freedom" and ensure those who "wish to force-feed us regulatory lard are held to account".
However, there were some who saw it "as an inconvenient bridle on their gallop towards political expediency", he said.
"I say to these people, and particularly those who take this view around the Cabinet table, that there comes a time in the Government that you must do what is right, rather than what is easiest."
The commerce select committee, which examined the bill in the last parliamentary session, recommended it should be thrown out. It recommended replacing it with a "high-level expert taskforce" because of fears it could see Parliament's lawmaking questioned in the courts.
The bill proposed blocking laws or regulations taking away property or common law rights without due reason or compensation.
The legislation was recently examined by the Regulatory Responsibility Taskforce headed by former Treasury boss Graham Scott.
Mr Hide said Dr Scott had performed a "few nips and tucks" to the bill and it was now "generally in admirable shape".
